ARE YOU THINKING OF TRAVELLING TO ISRAEL? AS OF 1 NOVEMBER, ISRAEL HAS A NEW REQUIREMENT FOR ENTRY INTO THE COUNTRY: OBTAINING A GREEN PASS.
Since 1 November, the Israeli authorities have allowed foreign nationals to enter Israel, provided they meet a strict set of requirements, including, most importantly, a green pass.
Failure to comply with any of the requirements for entry into Israel, in the opinion of the border authorities, will prevent entry into Israeli territory and the requirement to return to your country of origin, without being able to leave the airport facilities.
Today’s blog post will be dedicated to the new requirement for travelling to Israel: obtaining a green pass.
What is the Green Pass imposed by the Israeli Ministry of Health?
In accordance with the new regulations that come into force on 1 November 2021, foreigners who are vaccinated and who have not been in a red country in the last 14 days, and who have a vaccination certificate of the vaccines recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO), are allowed to enter the country.
In order to prove their status as a foreigner vaccinated with the vaccines accepted by the WHO, passengers must complete the Entry Declaration prior to travel (and no more than 24 hours before boarding) in order to obtain the Green Pass.
Once all the information has been included in the Entry Declaration, the Israeli Ministry of Health will send an email granting or denying the Green Pass, depending on the information provided.
Who is eligible for the Green Pass and how long is it valid?
The following are the measures to be taken into account in order to obtain the Green Pass:
- Vaccinated persons
Those who have received two or three doses one week after the day of the last vaccination.
***Those who have received only one dose are not eligible, even if they test positive in a serological test after vaccination.
- Recovered persons
Holders of a certificate of recovery with a positive PCR test result.
- Persons with a positive serological test
Those who have recovered and subsequently tested positive in a serological test, have never been vaccinated before the test and after the test received at least one dose of vaccine are eligible until 31.12.2022.
If the application for the Declaration of Entry is successful, the person will receive the green pass by email from the Israeli Ministry of Health. This must be presented when boarding a flight to Israel and when entering the airport border control.
If the application for the Entry Declaration is denied, the person will not receive the green pass, and therefore the applicant or his/her employer must submit an application for a special entry permit prior to travel. The special entry permit must be presented when boarding a flight to Israel and when entering the airport border control.
In addition, the special permit will require you to comply with health regulations that may include full quarantine measures upon entry.
These requirements are in addition to the obligation to undergo a PCR test, up to 72 hours before the flight to Israel, and upon arrival in Israel, at the airport.
What measures will you encounter on your arrival in Israel?
The Israeli Ministry of Interior has stated that upon entry of foreign nationals to Israel, a thorough check is expected to ensure that vaccination certificates are authentic. Therefore, it is recommended to have the green pass and the vaccination certificate at hand upon landing. According to the Ministry, in case an Entry Declaration form is found to be inaccurate, entry will be denied.
Also, upon arrival in Israel, additional questioning by the border control is expected, in order to avoid the double intention of visitors entering as tourists or travelling on business with the intention of working. It is therefore recommended to check the type of visa required of each person travelling to Israel before travelling. As stated by the Ministry, the presumption of work will normally include one of the following activities: practical work, practical training, counselling, installation of machines, maintenance of equipment, supervision of a job, visit to restricted work areas (manufacturing or construction areas). In addition, it has been reported that the Ministry of Interior will intensify its inspections of workplaces to ensure compliance with labour and immigration regulations on the employment of foreign nationals.
If you would like more information about the restriction measures imposed by the Israeli Ministry of Health and the safest way to travel and obtain your green pass, our advisors specialised in internationalisation will be happy to analyse your situation in a personalised way so that you can finally travel without restrictions.
Do you want more information? CONTACT US
Expatriation and Impatriation Area
Author: Sheila Artigas, lawyer at Expatfeliu
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